My "Back from the Fort" Report

[stacktester]

I'll just apologize up front since I know this is going to received poorly, but this kind of complaining about minor price increases by folks who have Disney in their "backyard" and go 6, 8, 12 times a year kinda ticks me off. It seems some folks have gotten used to the idea of having the world's premiere vacation destination serve as their quick getaway destination, which for the rest of us is perhaps a KOA or a State Park. Well, WDW isn't a state park. It's the kinda place most people save up for to go a couple of times in a lifetime. The really devoted fans get there once a year. Complaining that it just isn't affordable for a weekend getaway is kinda like complaining the dinner at the Yachtsman is more expensive than the Golden Corral! No kidding?! It costs me about a grand just to drive down and back home, and I have to budget about $2500 for our whole vacation, so forgive me if I don't feel your pain about having to pay $45 more for a long weekend. And BTW, if all you get out of the Fort is "a water hose, sewer hole, and electrical outlet" then maybe you should stay at a State Park, because you are missing the Fort-experience completely. My rant is over. I really enjoy the camaraderie with Donnie and Cindy, and don't want any feelings to be hurt or relations strained, but I did want you to know how these types of comments can be received by others not so fortunate as yourselves.

Respectfully submitted Shan and I have no problem with honesty. One would think though that a discount for someone living close by would make Disney more money. If you drive thru the fort there are a ton of Florida tags. I wouldn't know where to begin trying to figure the stats on how many FL residents vs other states visit the fort. My complaint is Disney depends on FL residents for their business or they wouldn't have a FR discounts. After 911 and during the "slow" times FR's are a lot of the business they receive. Either way you look at it, it can be expensive and it's not just a cheap weekend trip anymore.

 

[DisneyBishops]

It was on the news last night. Disney earnings down 30%. So there is a good reason to raise prices. If they would lower their prices a little then they might just find out more people would come.

 

[Minnie's Mate]

...it's not just a cheap weekend trip anymore.

I agree. We live six hours drive without the Airstream in tow from WDW and we used to drive down for a three or four day weekend (have been AP holders since 2000) because Disney offered decent AP discounts back in the day. One of the reasons we have stayed at the Fort for the last 13 or so trips is because there haven't been any discounts we could take advantage of at the on-property hotels (nor at FW either). We have school age children and January and September just aren't options. Even staying at the Fort, it is still expensive at the times we go. $100+/night for a campsite during the Holidays is not a cheap trip to Disney World.